Boat race: Oxford v Cambridge – as it happened | Niall McVeigh | Sport | The Guardian The Boat Race Boat race: Oxford v Cambridge – as it happened Oxford raced away to win the 2014 race by 11 lengths, the biggest margin of victory since 1973, following a Cambridge error early in the race which gave the Dark Blues a decisive advantage Oxford compete during the Boat Race. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA Sunday 6 April 2014 13.30 EDT First published on Sunday 6 April 2014 12.00 EDT 6.25pm BST 11 lengths That was the distance between the crews - the biggest winning margin since 1973. In rowing terms, this was a pretty hefty drubbing. Credit to Cambridge though, who kept fighting when the race was clearly lost. It's emerged also that Luke Juckett had his rigger damaged in an early incident, making him unable to row effectively. That may explain the enormous gap between the two boats by the time they reached Mortlake.

Cambridge were close to their opponents at that point, and claimed that there was a collision - replays suggest that Juckett may have simply 'caught a crab' - losing control of his oar as the waters were stirred around him. Oxford were imperious, however, and Cambridge paid the price for a perhaps unavoidably aggressive start. It's unlikely the pre-race favourites would have been stopped. Thanks for reading. Goodbye. Updated at 6.39pm BST 6.20pm BST As Cambridge trailed over the finish line, Ian Middleton raises an arm to formally lodge an appeal. Umpire Richard Phelps has a word with the young cox under Chiswick Bridge, and puts him pretty firmly in his place. "You were in their water, they weren't in your water" is roughly the gist. The result is declared, and Middleton drifts off, slightly chastened. 6.18pm BST OXFORD WIN THE 2014 BOAT RACE! That was never in doubt, following the clash of oars close to Craven Cottage. Well done to the Dark Blues, who were clearly superior and defend their win last year. Their time: 18.36.

Not lightning fast, but more than quick enough. Updated Oxford pass the Stag Brewery, now almost ten lengths clear... 6.16pm BST Around a twenty second gap as the two crews pass under Barnes Bridge. The Cambridge crew are visibly weary, but they are at least still fighting for pride. The boats are now passing an area of Mortlake where, sporting a hangover and on a day when the waterwas high, I once accidentally walked into the Thames. 6.13pm BST Oxford go past the bandstand, still with an almighty lead. They move over to the Middlesex bank in search of deep, fast water. To be honest, they could probably swim home from here. 6.12pm BST Potential controversy ahoy It now appears there was a slight clash of oars - it's being replayed extensively, as the race is all but over. Cambridge may have grounds for complaint, and it's likely they will appeal. That said, Cambridge had received a ticking off from the umpire, so it seems unlikely the incident can be pinned on Oxford alone.

6.11pm BST Here's an impossibly exotic e-mail from Nick Coghlan: Following from Juba, South Sudan, on the Nile; it is curfew time here but we are keenly supporting the Dark Blues. Looks like you might be in luck, Nick. 6.10pm BST It's been a relatively slow race so far, with both crews well behind record pace, but Oxford have looked superior bar a brief flurry from the light blues at the start. Cambridge cox Ian Middleton is trying to urge his men on, bellowing "swing through" in a bracing Scottish brogue. It's making little difference, though - Oxford are disappearing over the horizon. 6.08pm BST Ten minutes in, and Oxford continue to row serenely into open water. They can choose their path along the remainder of the course, and are now passing Chiswick Eyot, scene of Trenton Oldfield's intervention in 2012. No such japery today. 6.07pm BST Replays suggest there may not have been clear contact between the boats, but Cambridge caught a rogue wave by pushing Oxford too close.

It may have been the only way that Cambridge were going to win, but they got a touch too fired up, and now they look well out of it. They'd been warned. Updated 6.05pm BST Cambridge are in trouble The underdogs' fierce start has come back to haunt them - they get too close to their rivals, and Luke Juckett in the light blue boat clashes oars, and loses his oar altogether! Oxford coast away, and there's clear water between the crews as they pass under Hammersmith Bridge. 6.03pm BST The crews head towards Hammersmith, with glowering clouds building behind them. Oxford have quite literally steadied their ship, and have moved a couple of lengths ahead. 6.02pm BST An aggressive start from the Light Blues here, moving to the centre again past the shallow 'Fulham flats' ahead of the first bend. The turn, up towards Hammersmith Bridge, favours the Cambridge crew, but umpire Richard Phelps is getting the radge on, warning them about their aggressive tactics.

6.00pm BST Two minutes in, and Cambridge are holding their own - edging slightly ahead as they head towards the first bend, past Craven Cottage. Fulham's home ground hosted the varsity football match today - Cambridge won on penalties. Get them on the plane! Updated at 6.01pm BST 5.59pm BST Conditions on the river dictate that the northernmost crew - Cambridge on this occasion - will move towards the centre of the river. That's what happens, and the boats come perilously close together. They're neck and neck as they pass the Black Buoy, which is painted - you guessed it - yellow. 5.58pm BST And we're off! The crews are set off by umpire Richard Phelps, after a tense wait at the start line. An incongruous flotilla drifts behind the two crews, full of coaches (presumably) shouting encouragement. Oxford, in dark blue, start from the Surrey station. Cambridge, in light blue/turquoise/duck egg, will take the northern line and hope to avoid delays. Let's race some boats. Spectators crowd onto a bridge over the River Thames before the start of the annual boat race.

Photograph: Toby Melville / Reuters Updated 5.54pm BST The course Both crews start attached to stake boats in the shadow of Putney Bridge. They'll traverse the best part of two river bends over 4.2 miles, passing under the Hammersmith and Barnes bridges before finishing just ahead of Chiswick Bridge. Landmarks to look out for - Craven Cottage, on the Middlesex side close to the start; the former Harrods depository in Barnes, and the Fuller's and Stag breweries on either bank, close to the finish. Plus Clare Balding in a speedboat. 5.50pm BST Anybody out there? Are you at the race? Watching on TV chuckling at the drizzle-soaked crowds? In a boat of your own, for some reason? Get in touch. 5.48pm BST Five minutes to go The crews are out warming up, and Clare Balding is about to charter a speedboat to Chiswick Bridge. Oxford are the more experienced crew, but Cambridge have a couple of wild cards in their pack - and an 18-year-old cox, Ian Middleton, leading them.

Incidentally, the rowers train for 3 hours a day, 6 days a week, for 7 straight months, to prepare for this. I'm dizzy just thinking about that. The same goes for the reserve crews, Goldie and Isis, who have just finished their race. Isis, the Oxford reserve crew, won by approximately an absolute mile - an ominous sign ahead of the feature race. The Beeb didn't show that race, as they had an essential feature about the moon's effect on river tides. An expert opined "the moon will be gone one day - will the human race still be here? Will the boat race?" I would say the second question rather depends on the first. Updated 5.39pm BST Mutiny in the boat race Sometimes, the drama takes place off the river - either in the pubs full of inebriated revellers that line the banks, or even in the college boathouses. In 1987, the largely American Oxford crew downed oars, in protest at a compatriot being replaced - by a Scot, of all people.

Coach Dan Topolski rallied a reserve crew to (spoiler alert) win the race, and his book on the events of '87 was turned into a film - True Blue, which by the looks of the trailer definitely didn't over-egg the drama. 5.23pm BST Progress update The women's teams have completed their race forty miles upriver at Henley, with Oxford winning by four lengths - their sixth win in the last seven races. This is the last time Oxford and Cambridge's female crews will race miles away from the action - from next year, their race will follow the same course as the men for the first time. And quite right, too. 5.21pm BST An update from Sean Ingle, our man on the ground in SW15 The Surrey station, as you may expect, is the path closest to the southern bank, and has been taken by the eventual winners ten times out of the last fifteen races. Cambridge will row along the Middlesex route, adjacent to - yes, that's right, the northern bank.

5.16pm BST Weather watch Conditions on the river have played their part in this race - for example, in 1912, when high winds and choppy waves caused both boats to sink - not an ideal outcome. Today, it's mild yet overcast, with a stiff breeze that may become a problem in the latter stages. Boat Race day seems to be the bizarro Cup Final day. Is it me, or is it always a bit gloomy? I can't remember many races played out against a backdrop of a shimmering, azure blue Thames. 5.09pm BST Preamble Good afternoon, and welcome to the latest instalment of a great British sporting tradition. This is the 160th time that Oxford University, sporting the dark blue, will take on Cambridge University, kitted out in light blue (although it always looked more turquoise to me) in a race upstream along the Thames. The first race took place in 1829 - Cambridge currently shade the head-to-head by 81 wins to 77. The dark blues of Oxford have won eight of the past twelve races, and are the bookmakers' favourites to take the spoils today.

As recent years have shown however, anything can happen on this storied stretch of water, extending just over four miles from Putney to Chiswick in leafy West London. Join me for all the build-up, with the race getting underway at 5.55pm. It's on! The Cancer Research UK Boat Races - The Course The Course previous next The Championship Course, Putney to Mortlake The Boat Race course, known as the Championship Course is 4 miles, 374 yards or 6.8 Km long. It stretches between Putney and Mortlake on the River Thames in South West London. This course was first used for the Boat Race in 1845 and has been used for every race since, (apart from 1846, 1856 and 1863 when the race was held in the opposite direction between Mortlake and Putney). The Fulham/Chiswick side of the course is known as the Middlesex side. The Putney/Barnes side of the course is known as the Surrey side. The Boat Races are rowed upstream, but are timed to start on the incoming flood tide.

The Boat Race is usually an hour before high tide, with the Women's Boat Race a further hour before so that the crews are rowing with the fastest possible current. The University Stone The University Stone is set into the towpath on Putney Embankment a few metres below Putney Bridge. The races will start from two stake boats moored so that the competitors' bows are in line with the University Stone. There is an equivalent stone set into the bank, adjacent to The Ship pub in Mortlake, at the finish of the race. The University Stone at Putney Detail map of the start Before The Cancer Research UK Boat Race the umpire will toss a coin, an 1829 gold sovereign, to decide which side or station the crews will row on. The challenger (the President of the losing club from the previous year), will call heads or tails. The Cancer Research UK Women's Boat Race toss will use a 2015 gold sovereign to commemorate the first year The Women's Boat Race took place on the Championship Course. In both races, the choice of stations could prove decisive. The President's decision will be based on the day's weather conditions and the advantage they thinks their crew can gain from either the Middlesex or Surrey bends.

The first and final bends give an advantage to the crew on the Middlesex station, while the long middle bend favours Surrey. Crews race off the start at Putney The crews warm up heading through both Putney road and rail bridges towards Wandsworth before returning to move on to the stake boats. This version of Putney Bridge was completed in 1886. Aligned on the stake boats, the athletes will be able to look across at their opposition for the first time. Watched by thousands of spectators, the early stages of the races will see the crews pass the Putney boathouses on their way to Chiswick. The crews race past the boathouses and crowds in Putney in the 2014 BNY Mellon Boat Race The Mile Post Times are recorded during the race at fixed points along the course. The first of these is The Mile Post, 1 mile from the University Stone at the start of the race. The plinth on the Surrey bank commemorates Cambridge 'Blue' & Tideway coach Steve Fairbairn.

It was erected by members of Thames and London Rowing Club's in honour of Fairbairn's skills as a coach and his role in founding the Head of the River Race in 1926. The record to this point is held by Cambridge (1998), in a time of 3mins 33 sec. The plinth at The Mile Post commemorating Steve Fairbairn Harrods Depository A key landmark for crews and spectators alike, Harrods Depository was a furniture warehouse for the eponymous store. Converted into flats in the 1990's the building has a commanding position on the Surrey bank, just before the crews shoot Hammersmith Bridge. The advantage is just beginning to turn towards the Surrey crew at this point, and was where Oxford (on the Surrey station) broke clear in The 2014 BNY Mellon Boat Race. The 2011 Boat Race crews passing Harrods Depository Boat Race crews approaching Hammersmith Bridge At Hammersmith Bridge the advantage of the Surrey bend starts to come into play. Traditionally cox's aim for the second lampost from the left as they pass under the bridge.

80% of crews ahead at Hammersmith go on to win. It is at this point the cox on the Surrey station can steer a course to capitalise on the advantage of their advantage, trying to push the Middlesex crew as wide as the Umpire will allow. The record to this point is held by Cambridge (1998), 6mins 20sec. In the 2014 BNY Mellon Boat Race, Oxford led at Hammersmith Detail map of the Surrey bend The Surrey bend, with its apex just past Hammersmith Bridge, often plays a crucial role in the outcome of the race. The crew drawn on the Surrey station will try to ensure they are still in contention so they can put in a push as they take the shorter route on the inside of the bend, this push can be decisive. Conversely the crew on Middlesex will try and stay in contention on the outside of the bend. As the bend runs out their own push can break their opponents. Chiswick Eyot Pronounced eight, Chiswick Eyot is a small uninhabited island, formerly used for growing osiers (a type of Salix or Willow used for basket making), it is now a nature reserve.

The river is very briefly straight here and as a result can be exposed to some rough conditions - such as The Boat Race in 2006. Often one crew will make their decisive move as they approach the island. The 2013 BNY Mellon Boat Race crews race towards Chiswick Eyot in the background Chiswick Steps Chiswick Steps themselves are a small set of concrete steps leading to the shore on the Surrey bank past Chiswick Eyot. They are normally underwater during the Boat Race as the race is rowed shortly before high tide. By this stage the Surrey bend has run out and the final bend in favour of the crew on Middlesex is just about to begin. The record to this point is held by Cambridge (1998), 9mins 56sec. Although over 10 minutes into the race, the crews from the 2012 Boat Race remained indistinguishable through each timing marker to this point, reaching Chiswick Steps in 10mins 23sec. Cambridge went on to win the race from the Surrey station.

The 2009 crews on their way to Barnes Bridge, having just passed Chiswick Steps Detail map of the finish Towards the finish of the race the final Middlesex, bend comes in to play. If the crews are still close this is the time for the crew on Middlesex to put in a push, they have the advantage and often better water. However if the crew on Surrey can stay in touch through Barnes Bridge there is a real opportunity wear down a Middlesex crew that would be expected to win on the inside of the bend. Barnes Bridge Completed in 1895, Barnes Bridge is now a Grade II listed structure. Crews are required to pass through the centre arch. Only one boat has won since 1945 when trailing at Barnes Bridge: Oxford came from behind this late in 2002. The Barnes Bridge corner is very tight: if both crews are level, as in 2003, this is a real test for the coxes. The record at this point is held by Cambridge (1998), 13mins 32sec.

The 2013 BNY Mellon Boat Race heads under Barnes Bridge The Finish The finish is just before Chiswick Bridge, marked by a small plinth on the Surrey bank and a post in the river on the Middlesex side painted in the University's colours. Chiswick Bridge was opened by the Prince of Wales in 1933. After months of training, if not years, it is here that the winners express their joy and the losers their despair. The record is held by the 1998 Cambridge crew who completed the course in 16mins 19sec. The time however means little when considered against the result of the day: won or lost. The two exhausted crews reach the finish in the 2010 race BBC SPORT | BOAT RACE 2002 | Strokewatch: The Boat Race Saturday, 30 March, 2002, 13:35 GMT Strokewatch: The Boat Race BBC Sport Online brings your all the action from the 148th University Boat Race on the River Thames. 1255 GMT: Cambridge win the toss and President Tom Stallard elects to start on the Middlesex station.

1340: The crews take to the water to warm up ahead of the race. 1405: The two crews come up to the stake boats at the starting line in the shadow of Putney Bridge. 1409: Umpire Simon Harris is ready to start the race but both coxes have their arms raised to signal that they and their crews are not yet ready. 1410: There is a slight delay to the scheduled start as the umpire calls for the boats to straighten up. 1412: The boats are finally level and they are off. 1 min: Oxford set the early pace at a rate of 51 and open up a lead after a clean start. 3 mins: Cambridge up their rate of 45 and put in a fast spurt to draw level and pull ahead as the crews pass Fulham Football ground. Umpire Harris bellows instructions as the crews come closer together in the faster flowing central line of the river. 6 mins: The Light Blues hold their slight lead as they pass the Harrods Depositry with Oxford hanging on before hoping to take advantage of the Surrey bend after Hammersmith Bridge.

8 mins: Oxford are unable to take advantage of the Surrey bend and still trail Cambridge. 10 mins: Cambridge have held their lead through the long Surrey bend and are holding Oxford's challenge at bay. 12 mins: The river begins to bend to Cambridge's advantage and if they maintain their rhythm they should cement victory and open up a bigger lead. 13 mins: Oxford are hanging in and have upped their tempo to stay level with Cambridge as they pass under Barnes Bridge with less than a second between them. 14 mins: The crews are locked in a straight sprint for the line. 15 mins: Oxford inch in front around the outside of the Surrey bend as Cambridge begin to struggle. 16 mins: Oxford cross the line in a time of 16.54 to take a memorable win - two seconds ahead of Cambridge. Crews: Oxford: Andrew Dunn, Bas Dixon, Gerritjan Eggenkamp, Dan Perkins, Luke McGee, Ben Burch (President), Robin Bourne-Taylor, Matt Smith, Pete Hackworth.

Boat Race 2016: All you need to know about the Oxford and Cambridge rivalry on the Thames Boat Race 2016: All you need to know about the Oxford and Cambridge rivalry on the Thames Oxford and Cambridge university boat clubs are presented after the crew announcement in March Credit: Getty Images 27 March 2016 • 2:29pm The Boat Race: what's it all about? Since 1829 the men's rowing crews of Oxford and Cambridge have raced one another for bragging rights, becoming a famous annual contest, held since 1845 on the Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake. The women's race, which was first rowed in Oxford in 1927 and thereafter in varying locations including twice in London, joined the men's race day in 2015. Also racing on the same day are the women's reserve crews (Osiris for Oxford and Blondie for Cambridge) and the men's reserves (Isis for Oxford and Goldie for Cambridge). The day is a private contest between two old universities, and even though their crews take part in many other regattas, the Boat Race remains the pinnacle of their season.

What's all the fuss about Blues? In 1829 Oxford's first Boat Race crew, convened by Charles Wordsworth of Oxford, wore the dark blue colours of Wordsworth's college, Christ Church. The next year Cambridge put light blue ribbon on the bows of their boat as an emblem, and since then the two universities have stuck to dark and light blue as their official colours. • Boat race: Five controversial races between Oxford and Cambridge A 'full Blue' is awarded to anyone who races past the end of the Fulham Wall in the first crew of the university, a hang-over from the days when sinkings more regularly happened. The chances of a sinking are very slim, now that crews can install in-boat pumps. When and where? This year the races are sponsored by Cancer Research UK which is also holding the Great Row to raise money for cancer research. Click the link for more information. Links to the past This year both the men's boats will be named after Blues who died last year. Oxford are naming their shell after the legendary coach and commentator Daniel Topolski , who lost his battle with cancer in February 2015.

Cambridge are naming theirs after Kevin Whyman, the winning 1996-1997 Blue Boat cox and stunt pilot whose plane tragically nose-dived into the ground in a flying accident at the Carfest North festival last August. Order of play The crews will row a last light practice paddle early in the morning on an empty river, then vanish to prepare. They reappear after 1pm to do the pre-race coin tosses in front of a packed Embankment, which determines the crews racing on Middlesex (north side) or Surrey (south side) of the unmarked area of fastest stream in the river. Oxford's women's crew row towards Hammersmith Bridge during Tideway Week training Credit: Getty Image This year the churches of All Saints and St Mary's on either side of Putney Bridge will display blue flags to indicate which crews are on which stations. The boats then go afloat about 45 minutes before their race, paddle out towards Battersea to warm up, and return to the stakeboats beside Putney Bridge just before their race. What's rowing like?

Race rowing has been compared to lifting a heavy bag of potatoes from the floor to your neck 35-40 times a minute. It is an aerobic endurance sport which needs months of training and good lactic acid tolerance to cope with, and honed technique to use the oars efficiently so that the boat is accelerated rather than slowed down when they go into the water. Rowers produce most of their power from their legs, not their arms or shoulders. The Boat Race, at 17-20 minutes depending on weather, is one of the longest and hardest races in the world, particularly if the margin remains close until the end. Several rowers have fainted after completing the race. Who's racing? All the rowers and coxes must be full-time students at the two universities, as well as serious athletes. Although the rowers must be male or female for their respective Boat Races, the coxes can be either gender. A mix of graduates and undergraduates take part, and while some have rowed for their country, others learned the sport only a few years ago at college.

Boat race teams In an Olympic year it is rare to have any former medallists in the crews unless they have retired from international competition, since rowing for a Blue is incompatible with training for the Games. However, it is likely that some of those competing on Sunday will one day win medals at future Olympics. What's gone into it? The current athletes have been training virtually non-stop since September 2015, mostly six days a week, with 11-13 sessions, a mixture of land and water training. Rowing machines are used in the gym, with 2km and 5km tests a normal measure of fitness and power. They have fitted this training around their studies, as do most UK university rowers, and are able to go on training camps only in the vacations. Why do they need umpires? The Boat Race is organised and umpired mostly by previous Blues with lots of rowing experience. On the tidal Thames no buoys can be put down to mark the two sides of the course, so the crews' fair course is determined by the umpire.

Cambridge row past the Harrods Depository during Tideway Week training Credit: Getty Images The umpire in a following launch will drop a red flag to signify the start, then use a white flag to warn crews which stray off their station and risk clashing. If a collision stops the race, the umpire will decide whether or not to re-start. At the end of the race a red flag would indicate a foul and possible disqualification, while a white flag means a clean race. Former Blues also align the crews at the start, wave the finish flag and judge the race margin. Turning the air blue Following years when Boat Race coxes' live microphones have broadcast profanities to the nation, it is usual now for there to be a slight delay in transmission from the boats. Expect to hear the diminutive coxes urging their rowers on, calling for better technique, pushes for power and 'on the legs', and to stay calm when clashes threaten. The cox is a combination of steersman, jockey, tactician, in-boat coach and cheerleader whose role allows the rowers to focus solely on rowing their best.

Where to watch from The race will be covered live on the BBC, streamed on their website, and on a number of radio stations . The riverbank will attract approximately 250,000 spectators, congregating around Putney Embankment (opposite a big screen), Bishop's Park Fulham, Craven Cottage, Thames Reach, Hammersmith Bridge, Furnivall Gardens (another big screen), Chiswick Pier, Duke's Meadows and Chiswick Bridge. Many of the pubs along the route run special offers on Boat Race day. Watch out for railway works and replacement buses along the South West Trains routes in the area, although the Tube should be running as usual.

Jargon-buster Bandstand A public bandstand east of Barnes Bridge used as a landmark Barnes Bridge The fourth timing point - both crews must pass through the centre arch of Barnes railway bridge Beverley Brook A tiny stream approx two minutes into the Boat Race, often used as a landmark by commentators Black Buoy A massive half-yellow, half-black floating drum marking the end of Putney Embankment Blade A rower's term for an oar Blue Doors A house with bright blue windows on the Middlesex Bank which marks roughly the mid-point of the race Boat Can mean crew, or the vessel they row in (aka 'shell') Bow Either the prow of the boat, or the person sitting in the seat nearest the prow Bow-ball The tennis-ball sized piece of rubber fixed over the sharp bow of the boat, to prevent injuries in the case of a collision Bow-side The starboard side of the crew Catch The 'start' of the stroke when the oar enters the water - catches have to be in time or the crew will not go fast Chiswick Eyot A large island in the Thames marking approx 9-11 minutes into the race Chiswick Steps The third timing point, between Chiswick Eyot and Chiswick Pier Clashing When the

 oars become interlocked in a race, leading to anything from crabs to stoppages and accusations of fouls Crab Catching a crab is when a rower's oar becomes stuck in the water, often throwing them off their seat and/or stopping the boat suddenly Crew A boat full of rowers.

Not a team. Ever.

Crossing A point west of Chiswick Pier where the river turns back to the north again, switching the station advantage back to Middlesex Drive The part of the stroke when the legs are shoving the oar through the water Finish (Of the stroke) - the point where the oars are pulled out of the water, which must be synchronised cleanly to avoid crabs Fulham Wall The Bishop's Park wall, along which the start of the race takes place Hammersmith Bridge The second timing point in the race Harrods Repository Now Harrods Village, a large building just before Hammersmith Bridge Loom The long shaft of the oar/blade, which should not be under-water Milepost The first timing point in the race, one mile from the start Mortlake The beach where the crews will land after the finish, and where the winning coxes are ceremoniously thrown into the water Pressure How hard a rower pulls their blade through the water: full pressure means maximum effort Push A few (typically 10-15) strokes in which the crew adds extra effort, to try to get ahead of their rivals Rate Number of strokes per minute, typically 40-44 off the start and then settling to approx 33-

36 during the race, depending on wind conditions Recovery The period in the stroke when the blades are out of the water and the crew effectively resting Rhythm The ratio of time a spoon spends in the water relative to the rest time spent sliding back for the next stroke.

The more efficient the rhythm, the longer a rower can carry on working at full power Second Lamp-post The point on Hammersmith Bridge under which the coxes will try to pass for maximum stream advantage Spoon The coloured end of the oar/blade, which goes into the water Stakeboat The moored boat which holds a crew in position before the race begins, like a starting block Station The side of the river the crew is rowing on. The two stations are Middlesex (north) and Surrey (south).

Stern The back end of the boat, where the cox sits Stride A point 15-25 strokes after the start when the crews change gear to a longer, more powerful stroke rhythm which gives them a sustainable cruising speed Stroke As well as action of the the rowing stroke itself, 'stroke' can also mean the rower who leads the crew, setting the rhythm and racing rate Stroke-side The port side of the crew Surrey Bend From the Milepost to the Crossing, a stretch of often very bumpy water in which the Surrey crew has the advantage Taking water Moving ahead of the other crew so that they are in line astern and being washed down University Post A large post marking the finish at Chiswick University Stone A small obelisk marking the starting point of the race at Putney Washing down When the oars of one crew are creating 'puddles' into which the other crew has to row, if it is too far behind - this slows the second crew down considerably.

Follow the latest Telegraph Rowing news READ MORE ABOUT: Editor's Choice 19 Jan 2017, 1:53pm Boat Races 2015: Oxford v Cambridge: as it happened - Telegraph Boat Race 2015 Boat Races 2015: Oxford v Cambridge: as it happened Follow live commentary from the historic women and men's Boat Races along the River Thames on 11 April 2015 - women at 4.50pm and men at 5.50pm BST (both live on BBC One) Ready to race: Oxford and Cambridge crews prepare for battle Photo: GETTY IMAGES Here is the report of the Men's BNY Mellon Boat Race . A great day for rowing. The women's crews took their rightful place competing on the same day as their male counterparts. And a great day for Oxford - they won the women's, the men's and the reserve race. Thanks very much for following it all with us. Goodnight. 18.34 Clare Balding signs off with: "April 11th will go down in history as the day in which women were finally allowed to take place in this historic event.

It is the start of a new chapter." 18.31 "That was the biggest boat race crowd I have ever seen. It was the best atmosphere I can remember, great to see so many women down here. It has been a great advert for rowing," says Sir Matt Pinsent. 18.29 Cox throwing. 18.25 And here are the winning Oxford crew, who triumphed with a margin of 19 seconds. They will get their trophy from Sir Steve Redgrave. 18.24 Presentation time. Here come the Cambridge boys, led up by their prez Alex Leichter. 18.14 OUBC president Stan Louloudis says: "I felt a lot more pressure this time. Partly because I was leading the guys and partly because we had some dark moments in the build-up.

But we went out and executed a really good race." &amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: Tim Stanley - Cambridge still ahead in Nobel Prizes &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;#boatrace2015&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; 17 mins 53 Cambridge battle home. Hard lines. Six lengths the margin. 17 mins 34 Oxford cross the line! A fantastic display. Oxford win the men's boat race. 17 mins: Victory in the women's race, victory in the reserve race.... 16 mins: Oxford show no mercy though. They have not let up by even one iota. Respect for the opponent involves finishing them off, sometimes. 15 mins: Playing for pride now. 12 mins: Ooh dear this looks almost impossible now for the Cambridge chaps. They're miles behind at Chiswick Steps. &amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: Gary Lineker - The Boat Race is oarsome! I'll get my coat.&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; 9 mins: Oxford are now a length clear.

And that was very impressive stuff, they took a big bite out of Cambridge at probably the hardest moment they could have done - with the bend against them and into a strong wind. (Normally the heavier crew does better into the wind) 8 mins: Cambridge making a move. They have upped their stroke rate by a couple, but it has not worked. Oxford have put in a big push as well. Cambridge struggling with some choppy water. Meanwhile, Joyce Chadwick writes: I have just watched the momentous first ever Women's Boat Race on the Thames. Congratulations to Oxford who put in a stupendous performance with top class women rowers showing how it should be done. I can only hope that someone in Cambridge apologises to their team for not giving them the same opportunity and support as Oxford does by enticing some of the top class rowers with good scholarships on offer to graduates and better facilities all round. The Cambridge crew trained just as hard and in rather more difficult circumstances than Oxford and they deserve our praise and congratulations in making that supreme effort despite the odds being against them.

The powers-that-be in Cambridge ignored warnings that, unless they made an effort to recruit some top class women rowers, they would lose the race but they let those brave dedicated women and their coaches carry on training all hours and without the facilities they deserved. I hope they are hanging their heads in shame. 6 mins: They're coming under the bridge now and it is Oxford who have the lead. But Cambridge not out of it yet by any means. 5 mins: Coming up to Hammersmith Bridge it's the Cambridge men who will enjoy the bend. 4 mins: Umpire Boris Rankov is getting involved, not a lot of a gap between the two. 3 mins: But as Fulham FC recedes in the distance, it looks like Oxford are pulling away. Perhaps half a length clear now. 2 mins: Coming past Craven Cottage they are side by side. Solid effort from Cambridge. 1 mins Strong start from Oxford, smooth and powerful. Cambridge wrestling with it a bit more. They're neck and neck after the first few strokes. Oxford with the better start, and they've settled into a quarter a length lead. 17.50 Under orders, as it were.

17.48 The teams are at the start and are ready to roll. They've tested the starting noise thingy. Both coxes still have their hands in the air. 17.47 Cambridge a fair bit heavier. A tough, windy day for it. A lot of thoughts are with the family of Dan Topolksi, who was Mister Boat Race for so many years . He died seven weeks ago. 17.46 Here are the Oxford boys. 17.42 The Dark Blue reserves win with plenty to spare. About four or five lengths. It was 13 or so last year, so that's getting closer. 17.40 Cambridge win the toss and choose Surrey. Meanwhile the Isis-Goldie race is going on. &amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: Cam FM - 97.2 - Half a length to Isis under Barnes, Goldie fighting back. Looking to be a close race&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; 17.30 Just time for the Oxford women to toss their cox into the water and now we'll turn our attention to the men's event.

The men's race is at 5.50pm 17.29 Here is a report of the women's race. Oxford have won the women's Boat Race, the first to take place on the same Putney to Mortlake course as the men's race. The winners extended their dominance over Cambridge with a 12th victory in 16 years on a landmark day for the women's boat race. For the first time in 88 years the women's race was staged on the famous Tideway course that for so long had been the sole preserve of the men.Hot favourites Oxford romped to a comfortable victory by six and a half lengths – about 19 seconds – as the women struck a telling blow for sporting equality, racing the same championship course and on the same day as the men. It’s the first time since the men’s race started in 1829 that the crews are racing on the Tideway on the same day, getting equal billing and funding thanks to sponsorship by Newton Asset Management. Previously, the women’s race, which started in 1927, took place the week before the men’s race, on a shorter course and in front of a few hundred spectators.

Oxford's Caryn Davies – a double Olympic gold medallist with the United States – said: "I'm proud and honoured to have this much attention. "It shows how excited people are and I'm so glad we can be role models to all the young women out there. "I could just hear so many people cheering along the banks and it didn't matter it they were cheering for Oxford or Cambridge. Just that they turned out was really great for us." 17.28 And here are the triumphant Oxford women, who are presented with their trophy by Sir Steve Redgrave. 17.24 Generous round of applause for the losing crew, some of whom look a bit glum. But they were well beaten by a much stronger outfit. 17.10 Oxford have won the women's boat race. 17.03 6,800 metres this course. Coming up to Chiswick Steps it's looking like it's all over for the women of Cambridge. But women's rowing is very much the winner on this historic day in which the women's boat race takes place not at Henley but on the same day and over the same course as the men's.

&amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: D W - &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;@TelegraphSport&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;@BNYMellonRaces&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;@alantyers&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; Oops BBC female commentator just said "Have have the Oxford cox in my ear"&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; 16.57 &amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: The Rowing Voice - Look for the Ox BB sleeves - they have Dan Topolski's name embroidered on. RIP Dan. Should be on the women's too - he coached them way back.&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; 16.55 Only six minutes in and I am sorry to say that the BBC commentator is saying "well it is a lovely day and history is being made, a shame we did not have a closer race".

16.52 We are underway in the women's boat race. Four minutes into it and Cambridge are under huge pressure. 16.45 And he is more from Rachel ... The results of the tosses - winners OUWBC, Goldie and CUBC - all chose Surrey. pic.twitter.com/ErQjFImHXs — The Rowing Voice (@RowingVoice) April 11, 2015 16.35 While you settling in for the women's Boat Race, here are a couple of profiles worth reading from Rachel Quarrell. Daphne Martschenko, Cambridge Women American Daphne Martschenko sits in the 7-seat for Cambridge women, was actually born in London, and started rowing at high school. She continued the sport at Stanford University, winning a slew of collegiate first- and second-team trophies. She was selected for the US under-23 team in 2012 and 2014, rowing one year and sculling the other, and would clearly like to pursue her rowing career further, though she says she's taking it "one day at a time". This is partly due to an injury she suffered this year.

"A tendon went in my shoulder," she says. "I was three weeks out of the crew. It was so hard to push the boat off and not be in it. I was on the watt-bike non-stop." Meanwhile the crew got on with making technical changes without her, although Martschenko was able to join coach Rob Baker and watch. "I got to come out in the launch - I'm a very visual learner so that was very helpful," she says. "I came back to rowing all guns blazing. I was so excited when I got back into the boat after the last fixture, I just love the energy of being in the boat on the water." Of the Thames river, the other partner in the Women's Boat Race, she says: "It's obviously a very unique body of water. Our training area at Stanford was also tidal so to an extent it's siilar, but the Tideway is so much more organic and alive. It makes it more of a strategic sport, a great lesson in being flexible and adaptive." As a Californian, she was braced for dire conditions when she arrived in Cambridge, but has been surprised by the UK's mildest winter in years.

"I came in really preparing myself for bad weather, rain every day, and I was pleasantly surprised. But I've been told it has been a little bit of an anomaly." Studying for an MPhil in Education at Homerton, she is keen to carry on. "I knew I wanted to do a PhD some time," she says. "This has been great — the programme I found at Cambridge is 100% me, I stumbled upon it when I was looking at the education faculty, an academic study that really spoke to my energy and passion." And the rowing? "Yes, in the US you are only allowed to row [at a high student level] as an undergraduate. This has been an incredible adventure, I still feel it's not real. And to be in a place where rowing is a recognised and respected sport. Being from the States where they think I do canoeing or kayaking or something. This is really nice to come and people know what rowing is, I love it." Shelley Pearson, Oxford Women For Shelley Pearson, the only Bermudan in this year's races, applying to Oxford to read for a masters in child education was an easy decision.

A finalist for the Rhodes scholarship linked to Oxford, she read her undergraduate degree at Harvard, which has become something of a feeder to the dark Blues' university — both in and out of rowing. "I've always known that I wanted to go to Oxford, ever since high school. It's been a fantastic experience, even though I had an interesting start so arrived on crutches," Pearson says. Crutches? Yes, in September she was still undergoing treatment for a long-term problem. "I have an aneurysmal bone cyst in my pelvis," she explains. "I have had nine surgeries on it, the most recent in August, and was on crutches for 12 weeks until November and could start training again a little in December." She hadn't by that point been in a boat since April, because she had torn a tendon attached to her pelvic bone during the spring of 2014. It is something of a miracle that she is even in this year's boat, and she will be back to see the doctors the week after the Boat Race, to see what the next step will be. This could matter more to this country's rowing coaches than it might appear.

Pearson rowed for the US as a junior, winning gold in the American eight at the 2009 junior world championships, but coming from a British colony is eligible for the GB team too, and had been hoping to attend the GB final trials last year before her injury ruled her out. "I'm taking it one day at a time, though, I really don't have plans for the future. My system has calmed down and bone is growing, which is encouraging, but I will have to keep on top of it because it could come back at any time." Meanwhile there the little matter of a 4.25 mile side by side race to row, one of the longest and most arduous in the sport. "I'm trying to stay calm but excited," she says. "I'm as mentally and physically prepared as possible, and I just want to race." 16.15 In about 30 minutes the women will be aiming for this post – which signifies the end of their race. 16.05 Ladies first ... the men have their toss (GETTY IMAGES) 16.00 And as the Grand National is about to start here's a tweet you might like.

&amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: Clare Balding - Proud to be presenting &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;#TheBoatRaces&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (don&amp;amp;rsquo;t forget the s) today. Historic day for sport &amp;amp;amp; progress towards equality&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; Here's why Clare Balding is not at Aintree , and chose to present the Boat Race. 15.48 Just over an hour to go until the women set off. Plenty of time to grab a Pimm's, G&T, or whatever your tipple of choice is ... 15.40 The women presidents toss the coin for their favoured channel (GETTY IMAGES) 15.29 Rowing isn't all toffs punting around on the river . Here's an interview with Mark Hunter by Oliver Pickup. The Double World Champion, Olympic gold medallist and former Leander Club captain is an East End boy done good. Those seeking a flag bearer for the inclusivity of rowing in Britain need look no further than Mark Hunter.

And the Londoner, born and bred in the East End with childhood dreams of emulating Sir Bobby Moore at his beloved West Ham United, is not afraid to dip his oar to dispel the myth that his sport is dominated by public school attendees – certainly not any more. “Rowing is massively different now compared to how it used to be,” Hunter tells Telegraph Sport. “It’s a lot more open, with opportunities for people from all walks of life to take part. I remember when I would row for the Great Britain junior teams and the kids from nicer schools were playing chess and I asked them if I could give it a go. They looked at me as though to say: ‘What, you really want to play this?’ It was as if it was too intelligent for me. And then I played it and I was actually really good; I wiped the floor with everybody.” 15.15 New to rowing? Here is our jargon-busting guide to some of the terms you may be hearing. Here's a few to start you off. Blade – the rowing term for an oar. Blondie – the name for the Cambridge women’s reserve crew, named to match Goldie, the men’s equivalent.

The women’s reserves will race over the same course the day before the main event, their contest acting as the TV dress rehearsal for commentators and techs. Blue – the university colours awarded to those who take part in the Boat Race. Oxford's are dark blue, Cambridge's are light blue. Bow – Two meanings: a) the front end of the boat, and b) the oarsman who sits nearest that end. Catch – the perceived start of the stroke, when the oars enter the water and the rower start to push with their legs. 'Sharp' catches are when the oars disappear fast and simultaneously below the water. 15.00 Clare Balding has ditched the National in favour of the Boat Races. Here, she explains why . &amp;lt;noframe&amp;gt;Twitter: Clare Balding - Proud to be presenting &amp;lt;a href="" target="_blank"&amp;gt;#TheBoatRaces&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt; (don&amp;amp;rsquo;t forget the s) today.

Historic day for sport &amp;amp;amp; progress towards equality&amp;lt;/noframe&amp;gt; 14.45 We'll be putting together of all the best pictures from the Boat Races . There are already some really nice shots of the scenes down in Chiswick. 14.30 Right then! It's a sunny but blustery day in London, ideal weather for a good stroll to blow away the rest of the lingering cobwebs and then a few drinks down by the river. Or, for those without easy access to a river, a few drinks and a read pf our live blog. Thanks for joining us. 11.30 Good morning all and welcome to our live blog of the Men’s Boat Race and the Women’s Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge. Want to learn more about the athletes on display today? Here is our definitive guide to both the men’s and women’s crews . It’s certainly an event that has featured plenty of well-known people throughout the years. Will there be a future Sir Matt Pinsent on show today, perhaps? Or maybe even a Hugh Laurie ... Learn more in our picture gallery here .

One person of note who is looking forward to it all today is Clare Balding, who snubbed Channel 4’s Grand National coverage in favour of an afternoon down by the Thames to report on the Boat Races for the BBC. Here, she explains why . If you are heading down to the river today, this handy guide will mark your card for all the best bars, restaurants and vantage points. Race schedule 16:50 women's Blue Boats Oxford W v Cambridge W 17:20 men's reserve crews Isis v Goldie 17:50 men's Blue Boats Oxford M v Cambridge M Alan Tyers will be here from 2.30pm to bring you crew news, build up and live coverage Oxford Cambridge boat race 2016 route: Where to watch in London, what time it starts - and the best pubs along the River Thames | City A.M.

29,423 views Thursday 24 March 2016 12:20pm Oxford Cambridge boat race 2016 route: Where to watch in London, what time it starts - and the best pubs along the River Thames Share For the first time this year, womens' teams will be permitted to race on the same day, along the same course as their male counterparts (Source: Getty) Emma Haslett, Lynsey Barber Not only is it a long Bank Holiday weekend, it's that time of year when Oxford and Cambridge go head to head on the waters of the Thames - yep, it's boat race time. The 162nd race will pit the two rival universities against each other, with Oxford chasing Cambridge's 81 wins versus Oxford's 79 in the men's event. The Cambridge women also hold a bigger lead of 41 wins to Oxford's 29. Timings Event coverage kicks off at 2.30pm on Sunday 27 March, on the BBC . The women's race begins at 3.10pm, with the men's race following an hour later at 4.10pm.

The course The Championship Course stretches for four miles between Putney and Mortlake, taking in Hammersmith and Barnes bridges. It's been used for almost every race since 1845, apart from in 1846, 1856 and 1863, when the direction was reversed. Where to watch it If you want more than just a flash of the boats as they pass, Putney Bridge is the ideal spot - although arrive early if you're planning on being able to see anything. Putney Embankment will also be busy - if you'd rather enjoy the event in style, you could pay to go into one of the rowing clubs lining the river along the embankment. Further west is Hammersmith Bridge, another popular spot for spectators, while the towpath along the North Bank of the river will also be busy. Meanwhile, Chiswick Pier will have views of the crews as they "power upstream from Chiswick Eyot past the Pier and through to the final bend". It'll be open from 2pm, serving food and drink all afternoon.

Finally, Dukes Meadow - a park and recreation ground between Chiswick and Barnes bridges on the North Bank - will provide good views of the final stage of the race. The best pubs The Boat Race (1956) - YouTube The Boat Race (1956) Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Published on Apr 13, 2014 Hammersmith, Chiswick, Barnes Bridge and Mortlake, River Thames, London. GV. Hammersmith Bridge (title super over). LV. Start of the race. Cambridge - force ahead, camera pans SV. Crowd. GV. Two boats on the reach before Hammersmith Bridge. CU. Oxford's boat. GV. Boats approaching Hammersmith Bridge. LV. From the other side of Hammersmith Bridge - the boats passing underneath with Cambridge in the lead. CU. Oxford's boat. GV. Two boats taken from stern. GV.

Large launches following the race. LV. Both boats approaching Barnes Bridge. CU. Boats passing underneath the Barnes Bridge. CU. Both crews rowing, pulling hard in the final stretch. GV. Crowd on bank. TV. Boats approaching finishing post, Cambridge in the lead. GV. Finish as the crews pass under Chiswick Bridge. Cambridge wins the race. (Lavender) (Orig "J")

Question: What is the first bridge that the boats pass under in the Oxford - Cambridge boat race?
Answer: Hammersmith